Where the Trees are a Desertexplores
the links between pollution trading and monoculture eucalyptus
plantations in Brazil. The publication is a collaboration between
Carbon Trade Watch and our partners in Brazil, FASE-ES. Where the Trees are a Desert explores the issues from the perspective of people living and struggling with plantations on the ground. Nov 2003

The Sky is Not the Limit gives an overview of the issues around pollution trading and introduces the main issues such as; environmental justice, NGO co-optation and privatisation of the atmosphere. Also explored is the history of the UN process and who the key players are in the emerging emissions markets. Jan 2003

The report “Castles in the Air: The Spanish State, public funds and the EU-ETS” from Carbon Trade Watch was launched on Saturday in Barcelona at the first meeting of the Alianza por una alternativa ecológica, social y urgente al capitalismo. Two weeks ahead of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), the report reveals the role of the Spanish State in the carbon market and the polluting industries in Spain being bankrolled by much needed public funding.

New research reveals that the windfall profits gained in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS) by the top eight polluters in Spain were mostly from the steel and cement industries. The report critiques the inconsistencies in the Spanish State’s climate plan and its continuous assistance to companies that undermines reducing emissions at source while increasing conflicts in Southern countries.

The co-author of the report, Beatriz Martinez stated: “The Spanish State has been promoting the continued destruction of nature by providing government “kick-backs” through overallocated pollution permits while at the same time providing public funding through World Bank funds to promote a neo-colonialism crusade to build destructive development in the South.”

The Alianza por una alternativa ecológica, social y urgente al capitalismo aims to develop strategies to reduce over production and consumption, food sovereignty, climate justice and participate in the global mobilizations of the People’s Summit for Social and Environmental Justice in Río de Janeiro, 15-23 June. During the international meeting, Rolando Cherqui from the Confederación Mapuche del Neuquén (Argentina) and Ivonne Ramos from Acción Ecológica (Ecuador) denounced the destruction created by Repsol and Endesa in their territories and countries, whereas vital connections were made with the role of the EU-ETS and wider carbon markets benefiting the same polluters.

Tamra Gilbertson, also co-author of the report stated: “The meeting of the Alianza provided a space to denounce EU climate policies and build connections with on the ground resistances in the South ahead of Rio+20 by bringing together the Indignados movement, grassroots networks and organizations that stand in solidarity with the movements in Brazil that are demanding immediate action against the root causes of climate change.”